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INTERVIEW With Sha Stimuli

I was lucky enough to get to briefly meet Sha Stimuli a couple weeks ago at a show at S.O.B.'s. He's a humble emcee who's also a big fan of Hip Hop. After he tore it down on stage that night he chilled in the crowd to enjoy the rest of the show. Our "EMCEE OF THE WEEK" this week took some serious time out this past weekend to answer a bunch of questions I had for him. Check out this insightful interview I had with Sha Stimuli below:

MONEY MIZ: What up Stimuli? Thanks for takin' some time out to rap with me, I really appreciate it. What's been good with you so far in 2010?

SHA STIMULI: I've been good, can't complain too much. 2010 has been interesting, I got out of the country to do some shows in the UK, tryin' to hit some more spots but other than that I've just been embracing the place that I've solidified in life and focusing on achieving more without overlooking what I've done... if that makes any sense.

MONEY MIZ: No doubt! Never forget where you been, but look forward to where you're goin'. I've read about you workin' on some new music and I gotta say I'm excited about it. What is your "Unsung" project and when can we expect it to be available?

SHA STIMULI: Yeah that project is scheduled to drop this summer hopefully with Coast2CoastMixtapes.com digitally and maybe some hard copies as well but I'm doin' something different from "My Soul To Keep" in a sense that the music won't be all soulful and reflective. I can't help but be myself on record so I'll be bearing my soul but I do feel like some of my fans missed some of the hard edged music on my debut and a little bit of the bravado. You can't please everyone so don't look for me to be all over the place, but I do want to continue to evolve musically and personally. My girl came up with the title "Unsung," she actually named my album and my "Hotter Than July" mixtape and it's not a crazy in-depth process. I ask what I should name a CD and she blurts something out. It works. But with this one I'm doing two parts "Unsung Vol. 1" is The Garden of Eden and Vol. 2 is Cinderella Man. I do believe I'm one of those unsung heroes, under the radar artists that you have to listen to in order to really get and I don't have major financial backing or a co-sign so my voice doesn't always get heard... ah, but when it is, people appreciate it. So I decided not to shy away from the spot I have but to appreciate it, the same way Adam and Eve should have appreciated the Garden of Eden, but it took them to get thrown out to acknowledge paradise. I think we all have a piece of paradise in our lives that we don't see.

MONEY MIZ: Word, I think that's so true. Some might even know it, they just don't acknowledge it enough. Your debut album "My Soul To Keep" is a modern day classic in my opinion. I listed it in my "Top 9 Albums of 2009" and still keep it in rotation in my whip. I personally don't care how many copies it sold 'cause that literally doesn't mean shit when it comes to good music anymore, ya know what I'm sayin'? In your honest opinion, do you feel the album got the recognition it truly deserved?

SHA STIMULI: I think it got what it deserved and will continue to grow as time passes and more people listen to it. On a physical level in terms of sales and magazine ratings, of course more is always better. I would love to live off the sales of this LP, but unfortunately that isn't the case. I thank you for your admiration of the music, it doesn't go unnoticed. And I will say, the words from fans or just regular humans that enjoy the body of work as entertainment and as a release from their everyday lives is truly a blessing. I had to take a step back and think that I'm not selling millions or performing on award shows, but I could've given up years ago when I lost my record deal and not be reaching anyone. I mean seriously, people have stopped me and told me they owe me for getting them through something or I helped their relationship or just altered 24 hours of their lives... with words and beats, that I came up with... it's deeper than we can really imagine. If tomorrow I blow up and Lil Wayne or Kanye or 50 signs me or something and I'm touching millions instead of thousands, this journey has prepared me for everything.

MONEY MIZ: That feeling must be so rewarding, when you hear how you touched someone. Something that absolutely fascinated me about "My Soul To Keep" was that you still had the creative ability to pen that album after releasing 12 mixtapes in 2008!!! How could you have a personal life at all if you're releasing that much music? I mean you gotta be immune to "writer's block" right?

SHA STIMULI: (Laughing.) Nah, I wouldn't say that, the mixtapes were like training camp. It really was a good idea that should've gone further if Twitter was as popular then or if I was on my Facebook grind like I am now but ummm I don't think I ever wrote so much material in such a short amount of time. The emotions and places I put myself in to write the "March on Washington" disc, "Love Jones" and "Hotter Than July" were really amazing if I step outside of myself. I was worried if I should just take some songs from those CDs and make my debut or if I would be able to channel energy all over again, but music is my life. I have a personal life. It mainly consists of playing basketball, eating food and watching movies, but I try to squeeze in some things that make me smile. Writing is my passion, my BlackBerry is loaded with scripts, books, songs, and verses. Maybe I shouldn't have let that out, but yeah, I get stumped sometimes with trying to say the hottest stuff and really concerning myself with not being too deep or too hard to follow while still being clever but mostly my biggest issue is remembering verses. Inspiration comes from everywhere.

MONEY MIZ: To add to this, your mixtapes are basically like albums. They have themes and are well thought out, not just a bunch of BULLSHIT slapped together quickly with a DJ yellin' over everything. It's quite apparent you take pride in your music. Why is this? Why are you so different from all these NY mixtape rappers?

SHA STIMULI: I have to credit DJ Victorious for steppin' in and helpin' me create concepts and also givin' me direction on certain records. I'm a sucker for a good story. He had to stop me from connecting every song on every tape. I really wanted every CD to go in some kind of weird order where I meet the girl in the beginning and then we get into drama or I start off ignorant then evolve... I just feel like people need a reason to listen to an entire body of work because I definitely don't want to pop in a CD by some rapper I don't know when I can just hear one catchy song on the radio or in the club. I love concepts and I like to provoke thought, it's my gift and curse. People always tell me that the buying public doesn't want to think too much, which is why media is getting dumber and lazier but I don't care. I think folks still want mental stimulation, they just don't always know that's what they want. To answer your question though, I don't know how different I am because I don't listen to much rap music but I will tell you this, no one is doing what I'm doing or talking about the things I'm talking about and that makes me very happy as a human being.

MONEY MIZ: My brother and my boy Khamal actually put me on to you several years ago after hearing you on HipHopGame.com right before your "Switch Sides" mixtape. They were tellin' me you were gonna be the next "big thing" in Hip Hop. In hind sight, being the next "big thing" might be overrated. What happened with your Virgin Records deal and do you think the demise of that relationship may have been a blessing in disguise considering the way the game works now?

SHA STIMULI: I will try to not be long-winded, but if you're still reading this then you're either a fan or I'm sparking your interest so here it goes: Was it a blessing? I don't know, I guess it was in a sense 'cause I don't know what path I was on as an artist. I think I was almost ready to give in and do whatever it was going to take to make it to the next level. Which meant any type of record possible to get exposure. Virgin didn't really have the staff to push an artist like myself at the time but I could've made anything work to my advantage if you ask me. I will say that I may have not been ready for the success that was ahead of me with that situation and I am thankful for the knowledge that I have today. As for what happened: I interned for Roc-A-Fella Records in 1997 and got cool with Hip-Hop, Gee Roberson, Al Branch and then street team leader, Lenny S. Every year after I graduated from college I would go check Lenny and play music and ask him if I should quit and get a job and he told me to keep going. In 2005 he signed me to Virgin Records as his first project. Jay-Z was Def Jam's president at the time and wanted to reunite all his former teammates under his regime and Lenny was offered a job. His only condition was to bring me along, which Jay agreed to. Unfortunately, there was a big stall and Jay didn't really keep his word, to say what happened really would seem like I'm whining or bitter, but let's just say I didn't take my career into my own hands and my ignorance about the business and people came to light. I owed Virgin money, they wanted Def Jam to pay it, Def Jam wanted to wait until I got dropped so I could have a clean slate but Virgin wouldn't drop me. Jermaine Dupri wanted to keep me at Virgin but decided if I didn't want to be there then he wouldn't fight for me. So I was stuck on a label but shelved while trying to maintain a name out there in the industry. I'm thankful for the experience and it could've gone very differently but it didn't and I just hope I can offer info to some other artists out there that may be going through politics in the game.

MONEY MIZ: Wow, Jay-Z didn't keep his word??? Get out... That shit's fucked up man. You've actually been in the game a lot longer than I thought. You're Lord Digga's brother and were exposed to Hip Hop at a young age. A lot of heads don't know you were on Masta Ace's "Slaughtahouse" album and knew Biggie from your brother workin' on his album. How did those early experiences effect your career?

SHA STIMULI: All of those experiences molded me to become who I am today. If it wasn't for Ace, I wouldn't know how to rock a show or how to do my thing in the studio. I was around Hip Hop when it was pure, before it was cool or profitable. People did it because they loved it and also because they had talent. My brother brought me to video shoots, studio sessions, and shows and exposed me to artists that had chosen rap as a career and it made me feel like music was more than just a dream. Roc-A-Fella not only helped me get signed, but it also gave me a chance to witness the meteoric rise of a company that truly believed in an artist and they worked together to make a lot of big things happen.

MONEY MIZ: How has the game changed over all these years and how difficult has it been to adapt to the changes?

SHA STIMULI: The game has changed drastically, when I started out it was all about having the best mixtape, we were hand-to-hand in the street with CDs and I even pressed up vinyl, shit now that I think about it, I was in a group when I was in college and my first meeting was with DJ Enuff when he was at Def Jam and we played a cassette tape. I did the same with Bad Boy actually, I think that was Conrad. Man, it's been so long. I got Unsigned Hype in The Source when it was really a big deal, I got spins on radio and we had a focus to get that record deal. But the Internet has changed everything. It has allowed many more people, talented or not to break in the game and also have an impact on it with the help of blog sites. It has watered down the buying public and diminished the actual fan that has no access to an artist. It made it possible for me to go to foreign countries and have them know my lyrics but it has also subtracted star quality and scarcity when it comes to artists. There was a time when you didn't know so much about an artist's life, but now you can speak to them directly on Twitter and comment on their music and watch them behind the scenes in reality shows and all of this matters since the chances of you going to buy their disc is very slim. I have adapted to reaching the masses through the net but I have not gotten there totally yet. It's tough to do things to get your career popping and then remember to tell people you're doing it simultaneously as you do it as if they want to know. Right now I should be Tweeting this, but I'm not... it sucks.

MONEY MIZ: (Laughing.) If you could only choose one current emcee as your personal favorite, who would it be and why?

SHA STIMULI: One emcee? I don't know, the only artist I'm truly waiting for is Andre 3000. He always wows me with lyrics and concepts. I need an album from him. I think he would make me re-evaluate what I did with my album and want to do better.

MONEY MIZ: What emcee would you most like to work with on your next album?


SHA STIMULI: I'd like to work with Eminem, maybe. He would push me to do something I wouldn't think of doing.

MONEY MIZ: What producer would you most like to work with on your next album?

SHA STIMULI: I'd love to work with Kanye or Just Blaze. I'm doing something with J. Cardim, he's gonna be big.

MONEY MIZ: Yeah I know of him from Boston. He just did a few hot joints for Joe Budden. I heard you played D1 college basketball. Is this true? And, if so, what was it like to play ball on that level?

SHA STIMULI: I played for a junior college in Iowa, I had the chance to play for a four-year school but it would've been in the Midwest 'cause I didn't get decent in ball until my senior year. I was too short to be a 2-guard in the NBA, but it was a learning experience for me. I learned that if I wanted something, I have the mental capacity to go for it. Music was calling me and it made me have to choose because basketball would have required a serious sacrifice to go to the next level. Obviously I made the choice I am with now. My brother signed to Atlantic Records, so I transferred from Iowa to Delaware State with the hopes of playing for the team. I had the opportunity presented to me, but it wasn't something I really desired anymore.

MONEY MIZ: Who do you think'll win the NBA finals this year? I'm from Boston so I'm very biased (laughing).

SHA STIMULI: I'm a Kobe fan, so I'm still celebrating and I hate to tell you about the repeat that's goin' down this year but it'll be interesting. Sorry about that, the Celtics look good though. Rondo is one of my favorite people, he reminds me of myself on the court.

MONEY MIZ: You might be right, the fuckin' Celtics have lost every god damn lead they've had all year!!! Back to college. Your education definitely shows in your lyrical content and it's refreshing to have a change of pace in the music. As a fan of Hip Hop are you gettin' tired of the same old "shoot 'em up," "pitchin' crack to the fiends" content in the music?

SHA STIMULI: I think everything has its place and that music allows me the chance to do what I do. I just wish two things would happen that would be reminiscent of my early days as a fan of Hip Hop. One would be versatility and variety when it comes to radio. That would decrease the formulaic outcome we've been gettin' where artists think they have to do a certain style of record to break through. Another would be to have artists be technically good at constructing songs and rhymes. I don't care what Jeezy raps about or his slow pattern as long as it's clever. The man cares about his pen... other artists from that region... not so much. And some rappers from New York or wherever preach ignorance all day because that's what they lived, but 85% of them, if you had to interview their family and friends, they wouldn't represent what they speak about on record. So what they say is that they feel like they have to perpetuate a stereotype to be heard and that's sad. Is Hip Hop a cancer or a symptom of a bigger issue? I say it's a symptom, we're not helping people with the negative music but the positive music that exists doesn't get the light of day so who is really controlling what reaches the masses? If I shot people and sold crack with no regard for human life, I would most likely use it to provoke thought and steer the youth in another direction. But that's just me...

MONEY MIZ: I had the pleasure of seein' you live for the first time a couple weeks ago and out of all the performers that hit the stage that night, your performance really stood out. You can tell performing Hip Hop is a very emotional thing for you. As an emcee stage presence is very important. What have you done to perfect your live emceeing skills?

SHA STIMULI: I can't tell all the secrets but I don't take the stage lightly. I want to put a dent in it every single time and make folks understand that you may have an artist that you're feeling but what do I do when I'm up there is give you every piece of emotion inside of me. I watch other people's shows, I imagine being in the crowd and looking up at myself, I try to tear my ego down and think about the fans and most of all, I am in the moment. I never lose myself on the stage, I prepare, I make sure I project and provide lyricism, wit and personality.

MONEY MIZ: My borther and I were listenin' to "My Soul To Keep" the other day and he pointed out that you never let the rhyme dictate what you want to say. You never let a rhyme force itself into any of your lines. You say exactly what you want to and get it to rhyme the way you want to. Is this just natural or is it a combination of hard work and talent?

SHA STIMULI: That's one of the most interesting questions I've ever gotten. I believe that with this album I wanted to make sure I was understood. I thought about the average person that maybe didn't want to hear verbal linguistic crazy flows and just decided to communicate topics with feeling. Sometimes I think I dumbed it down too much technically or that the lines weren't as shocking as some of my mixtape stuff, but I swear to you it just felt right. I didn't force one thing on this album. I remember Adam Levine from Maroon 5 saying that it's good to do what you feel in the studio and not to try to make records with the record business in mind. I was thinking about people and what was missing and the words and ideas just came out. Records like "Have You Seen Him?" and "What's Wrong..." really have a place in my heart outside of the artistic world as messages that I felt needed to be heard. 

MONEY MIZ: Well I hope you continue to make the quality music that you have been throughout your career. Thanks for answerin' my questions and I wish you much success this year. I'm definitely lookin' forward to "Unsung, Vol. 1." Please let all my readers know where they can find more of you and your music online...

SHA STIMULI: I thank you for listening and anything you need from me, I'm here. I don't want to just promote myself so I will say if you do like an artist, reach out to him, support his/her music, it could change a life, encourage a dream and make someone a better person. With that said... hit me up... "MY SOUL TO KEEP" album in stores now: PURCHASE ALBUM ON iTUNES HERE!!!

Follow Sha Stimuli on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/ShaStimuli

EMCEE OF THE WEEK - Sha Stimuli

This week's "EMCEE OF THE WEEK" is Sha Stimuli. I don't think I've ever put an emcee as deserving as Stimuli in this weekly feature before. His thought provoking, introspective, insightful rhymes are just so scarce in this industry lately, that when I heard his debut album "My Soul To Keep," I researched it to make sure it wasn't a reprint of an album from the '90s. His abilities on the mic very well may be limitless because there isn't a topic, style, or flow he hasn't been able to perfect yet. Not to mention, his stage presence is inspiring for all upcoming emcees, just don't try to battle him - you will get BODIED.

Sha's been involved in Hip Hop since being featured on the Masta Ace Incorporated album "Slaughtahouse" when he was just an early teenager right out of elementary school back in '92. He always had a passion for music but went on to college in Iowa to play Division 1 NCAA basketball. After one year ballin', Stimuli's older brother Lord Digga signed a deal with Atlantic and went on to produce for Biggie Smalls' "Ready To Die" album. Sha was able to chill with his brother and Biggie during the '90s Golden Era of Hip Hop. After Biggie's passing, Sha moved on to intern at Roc-A-Fella Records, learning that solo artists could indeed blow up without being signed to major labels.

This gave birth to Sha Stimuli, the EMCEE. In 2002, he released his first mixtape "Let Me Show You The Way" and The Source Magazine named him in the then coveted "Unsigned Hype" section of their publication. Stimuli subsequently got signed to Virgin Records, but left due to issues between Def Jam and Virgin that created a situation where he was without a management team. This may have been a blessing in disguise though, considering the downhill spiral we've all witnessed with Hip Hop music sales during the latter half of this past decade.

Sha Stimuli released 12 mixtapes in 2008, one for every month. His ability to write is unmatched in my opinion. The ease at which he delivers such witty, intelligent, and meaningful lyrics is quite special in this age of "dumbed down," gun clapping, and booty clapping themes in Hip Hop. He was recognized for his skills at the Underground Music Awards in 2007 and 2008, winning "Best Lyricist" and "Best Male Rapper" respectively. What I personally couldn't wait for was his official solo album "My Soul To Keep" which came out at the end of October last year. If you don't have this album, I strongly suggest getting it. It's a modern day classic. Read HipHopDX.com's review here: My Soul To Keep REVIEW

Sha Stimuli is a rare breed of emcee who can literally do it all... and do it all better than all of your favorite rappers. From braggadocio to story telling, hardcore street to light-hearted comedy, political to romantic, Sha Stimuli has perfected all emceeing styles. He's a fuckin' Shaolin Master when it comes to the martial art of rhyme and if you don't believe me, just peep the video below. This clip is from the Statik Selektah Record Release Party I went to a couple weeks ago. There were about 20 other emcees to hit the stage that night, but I think Stimuli crushed all of them. See for yourself...

PURCHASE "MY SOUL TO KEEP" ON iTUNES HERE



Also, peep Sha's official video for "Move Back" featuring Freeway and produced by Just Blaze off his "My Soul To Keep" album:

THROWBACK CLASSIC - Week of 2/15

Lamont Coleman, better known to the Hip Hop world as Big L was killed 11 years ago today. Gunned down in his own hood of Harlem, Big L's murder is yet another one of those Hip Hop deaths that has yet to be solved. An arrest was made when the crime first occurred, but the suspect was later let go due to a lack of substantial evidence. It's suspected that Big L's two incarcerated brothers may have been to blame for his murder because it's rumored that the crime happened in retaliation to something that one of his brothers may have down in jail or prior to being locked up.

In memory of arguably the most skilled emcee of all time, I'm posting Big L's "Put It On" video as the "THROWBACK CLASSIC OF THE WEEK." This song is one of the singles from his debut album "Lifestylez of Da Poor & Dangerous" which was released back in 1995. Big L unfortunately met his demise right before the release of his sophomore album "The Big Picture."

Peep the video below:

Raekwon Responds To Sade's Shoutout

Yo Raekwon is a clown, straight up!!! This video is crazy funny. When Rae found out that Sade shouted him out in an interview last week saying that she's been listening to Cuban Linx 2 and loving it, he recorded this video to thank her for the love.

Peep this hilarious video from Raekwon below:

New Hip Hop Album Releases - 2/16/10

The following is a list of new Hip Hop album releases for Tuesday, February 16, 2010:

Big Rich & Ya Boy: "Guns & Roses" (EP)

Freeway & Jake One: "The Stimulus Package"

LMNO: "Push That Work"

Mathematics: "Return of The Wu & Friends"

The Jacka: "Dre Area Vol. 2"

Army of the Pharaohs: "The Unholy Terror"

I've heard the Mathematics album already and, as much as I love Allah Math, this guy is on some serious fuckery here. He puts out Wu-Tang compilation albums every year practically and they all have the same exact fuckin' songs on them. This album literally has the same axact tracks on it as his last release, just with a different name. Come on dude. GETTHEFUKOUTTAHEREWITDATBULLSHIT!!!!!!!

I'm actually pretty interested in seeing what Army of the Pharaohs can do on their third album here this week. I hope the rhymes are on point. As long as the rhymes are up to par, it'll be a dope, hardcore, underground album. I'll keep y'all posted. One.

Wu-Tang Saga Documentary

On Thursday, February 25, 2010, a brand new documentary movie will be released titled "Wu-Tang Saga." This documentary of the Wu is like no other, in that, it doesn't discuss the Clan's early years and history. Instead, it focuses completed on the last two years and what transpired between the group members during and after the recording of their latest group album "8 Diagrams." The footage encompasses 9 concerts they performed in together as a group in the last two years as well as a tour of Staten Island, exclusive freestyles, album photo shoots, footage from the tour buses, 5% teachings, autograph sessions, and more. This documentary is narrated exclusively by the members of the Wu-Tang Clan and delves into the revolt that occurred against the RZA after the release of "8 Diagrams."

This should be a must-see for any die-hard Wu-Tang fans. I know I'm all over this one for sure. You can pre-order the two hour movie including an additional hour of bonus footage at www.WuTangSaga.com.

Check out the trailer below:

Padma Lakshmi Commercial

This post can be filed under BULLSHIT I guess, 'cause it has nothing to do with Hip Hop. This is a commercial that Indian model and host of Bravo's "Top Chef" did for Carl's Jr. My Wiz is Indian and I swear to God I just have a thing for Indian chicks. Padma is probably the hottest Indian woman I've ever seen. Check out this commercial. I want to eat the fuck outta... that burger. (Get your mind out the gutter mutha fucka!!!)

Follow Padma Lakshmi on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/PadmaLakshmi

Money Miz's Memo on Advertising

Memo

To: Record Executives, Music Industry Advertisers, Radio Stations, MTV, BET
From: Money Miz
Re: New Advertising Law
Date: 2/11/2010
________________________________________________________________________________

Effective immediately: The United States Congress has passed into law a new regulation on the advertising of Hip Hop music. Any radio or television commercials MUST have warning disclaimers included at the end similar to the warnings included in all pharmaceutical or medicine advertisements. These warnings must clearly and simply describe any and all side effects that may be caused by listening to the music. Advertisements not including such warnings will result in heavy fines for the advertising company and the company broadcasting the advertisements. An example of a warning disclaimer can be found below (in my TV commercial deep announcer voice):

"This album contains obnoxious levels of auto-tune, R&B choruses, repetitive boring content, complete and utter fabrications of illegal activity, several lines that do not even rhyme, beats that use "hand-claps" instead of snare drums, rappers trying to sing but failing miserably, extreme usage of cross-over content, excessive usage of gun-shot and "click-clack" sounds, and improper (but entertaining) objectification of women."

"Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, and suicidal thoughts or actions while listening or after listening to Hip Hop. In some instances people have experienced serious side effects such as: wanting to paper cut their eyeballs, banging their heads into walls repeatedly, and attempting to record an album themselves because if Lil Wayne can do it then anyone can. Other listeners have experienced side effects that considerably reduced their I.Q. and even reduced their intelligence to levels seen in people with down syndrome."

"If you notice agitation, hostility, depression or changes in behavior, thinking or mood that are not typical of you, or if you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, STOP listening to the BULLSHIT and call your doctor right away. If you notice reduction in your penis size, loss of vision, or have an erection lasting more than four hours because you're gay and want to fuck Lil Wayne in his 4 foot 11 inch ass, then contact the record executive who put the album out and slap the shit out of him and his momma!!!"

"If none of this works and your suicidal thoughts persist, then go ahead and BODY YOURSELF because you're absolutely fucked at this point."

These disclaimers must be added to all advertisements IMMEDIATELY.

Ruste Juxx & Marco Polo - "Rearview"

The "JOINT OF THE WEEK" this week is "Rearview." This is the first leak off of Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx's upcoming LP "The Exxecution." The album is slated for release on March 23, 2010 and I'm pretty sure it'll be dope. Marco Polo will be the sole producer of the album and if it's anything like his last release "Double Barrel" with Torae, then this album will be nice. Ruste Juxx and Marco Polo are both part of Duck Down Records and everything I've ever heard either of them do musically has been official. I was first exposed to Ruste Juxx on Sean Price's "Monkey Barz" album back in 2005 and he's impressed me with every hard, gutter rhyme he's ever spit. Marco Polo is a highly respected producer from Canada and if you don't know who he is, BODY YOURSELF. I'm not even gonna elaborate on that shit. I'll keep y'all posted on any new developments from this upcoming record. For now listen and download to the "Joint of the Week" below and be sure to peep the sick album cover art as well!!!

FREE DOWNLOAD - Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx "REARVIEW" 

TOP 5 ANTICIPATED ALBUMS IN 2010

I've been thinkin' about what albums I'm dying to get my hands on in 2010 and I think I'm finally ready to break it down for y'all. After listening to complete BULLSHIT thus far in 2010 (i.e. Lil Wayne's ridiculous crossover "Rebirth" album, fully equipped with auto-tune laced verses and choruses), I'm really hoping for the albums in my Top 5 to be classics. I never get my hopes too high because I've been burnt way too many times in the last decade on albums that should've been classic but turned out to be garbage. Is it too much to ask for Eminem (a great lyricist) to do a track over a DJ Premier beat??? I'm just using him as one example, but there's many more like that. There's so many dope emcees who would make classic albums if they fucked with the right producers and stopped fuckin' with auto-tune and beats from Timbaland's fat ass (don't get it twisted, I think Timbaland's made some sick shit but he also made a disproportionate amount of doodoo).

So, without any further ado, the following is a list of my Top 5 Most Anticipated Hip Hop Albums of 2010:

5. J. Cole: "Untitled" (No album name yet)

Follow J. Cole on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/JColeNC

J. Cole is the first MC to be signed to Jay-Z's new label "RocNation." He's been on tour with Jay-Z recently and is currently working on his first official studio album, due out some time this year. I'm very excited about J. Cole and his album. He's released two mixtapes, which basically run as if they're real albums. The first mixtape titled "The Come Up" (FREE DOWNLOAD "THE COME UP") was released back in 2007 and Jay-Z swiftly signed him upon hearing some of his tracks. The second mixtape is titled "The Warm Up" (FREE DOWNLOAD "THE WARM UP") and was released in the summer of 2009. If you haven't heard this kid flow yet, be sure to use the links and download both of these mixtapes. J. Cole is truly skilled at his craft. He graduated from St. John's University Magna Cum Laude a couple years ago and it shows in his rhymes. His content is intelligent and street at the same time (similar to Nas from the '90s) and his flow is water (of the Fiji caliber). My only concern with J. Cole's debut album is if Jay-Z or the label has an influence on the content. If they commercialize the fuck outta the album, then we have a major problem. If they let J. Cole continue to ride in the lane he's been holdin' down for the past few years, then I have no doubt his album will be amazing. We'll have see what happens. If you don't believe me about J. Cole's skills, then peep this video below:



4. Capone-N-Noreaga: "The War Report 2"

Follow CNN on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/Noreaga & www.Twitter.com/CaponeQB

I'm actually extremely excited for this album right here. Capone-N-Noreaga released their undeniably classic album "The War Report" back in 1997. That album boasted features from Tragedy Khadafi, Mobb Deep, and Imam Thug. The production was stacked with legends like Carlos "6 July" Broady, EZ Elpee, Buckwild, Lord Finesse, Marley Marl, Clark Kent and Tragedy Khadafi. It was a certified, underground, street classic that broke the mold and garnered commercial success despite it's hardcore, gritty sound. Capone-N-Noreaga have signed a deal as a group with Raekwon's Ice Water label and are reportedly 80% complete with recording the sequel. What gets me excited about this project is that CNN understands that their albums that came out after "The War Report" were not very good. Noreaga has stated that he's not going clubbing or listening to the radio while they record part 2. He vowed to drink Hennessy again even though he hates it. Noreaga wants to get back in the same mind set he was in while recording their debut. 

In a recent interview with XXL Magazine Noreaga discussed the elements that made the first album so good: "When you listen to The Reunion we didn't have those elements... When you listen to Channel 10 that was way far off so this is really going back to the basics you know what I'm sayin'? It's going back to the basics just like The War Report and that's just makin' fuckin' music. Who cares if a chorus goes there or not, that's just not what it is... Hip Hop is rhyme, nigga, we'll figure it out later."  

Well, if N.O.R.E comes through on this, "The War Report 2" could be the hardest album Hip Hop has heard in quite some time. No auto-tune singing in the chorus of so-called "thugged out gangsta" tracks. CNN's current mind frame being coupled with Raekwon's "older brother" type guidance on the project could be a recipe for street classic success. I can't fuckin' wait. Peep the video below of Noreaga buildin' with Imam Thug as they prepare to make "The War Report 2."

 

3. Pharoahe Monch: "W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)"

Follow Pharoahe Monch on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/PharoaheMonch

I've been a big fan of Pharoahe Monch since he was killin' it with Prince Po in Organized Konfusion. In the fourth quarter last year, Monch announced that he left SRC Records to form his own independent label, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades). He also announced the release of a brand new solo album under the same title as the record label. Pharoahe Monch has been hard at work over the past few months recording the album and touring in Australia. He confirmed guest appearances from Jean Grae, Talib Kweli, Black Milk, Styles P, Cee-Lo, Prince Po, and a yet to be announced "favorite" member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Monch told XXL Magazine late last year that the Prince Po Organized Konfusion track was "insane." In addition to guest appearances, Pharoahe Monch stated via his Twitter account that "W.A.R. is produced by Exile, M-Phases, Fatin, Marco Polo, Nottz, and Samiyam... THESE DUDES BEATS PUSHED MY LYRICS BEYOND COMPREHENSION." Well, I can't wait for the album my brother. I love the fact that Pharoahe Monch has gone completely independent as well. He's still getting big name producers and features simply on his own reputation and I feel like this album will probably be as good as "Internal Affairs" was. Once again, we'll have to just wait and see. Check the Pharoahe Monch interview with Rebel TV 333 below:


2. Meth, Rae, Ghost: "Three, The Hard Way"

Follow Meth, Rae, Ghost on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/MethRaeGhost

I don't think I'm gonna elaborate too much on this choice here. Hot off of Raekwon's classic release "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II," Raekwon has linked up with Method Man and Ghostface Killah and the three of them are in the process of recording an official studio album together titled "Three, The Hard Way." Raekwon has been on a mission to continue his success from last year and he gathered arguably the two best members of the Wu to form a mini group. This shit is gonna be BANANAS. Information on this album has been kept fairly quiet as of yet. The only real info I've heard is when RZA spoke to MTV at the end of 2009. He stated that he's on board with the project and will be producing some joints on the album. All I have to say is if RZA is producing any part of the album, it's gonna be ridiculous. Scram Jones also told me on Twitter that he produced some shit for Rae recently that is on some next level shit. I have good faith that Raekwon, Meth and Ghostface will produce an extremely high caliber record here. Let's just keep our fingers crossed.

Peep the first leak from the album "Meth vs. Chef Part 2" produced by Allah Mathematics below:



1. Jay Electronica: "Untitled" (No album name yet)
    
Follow Jay Electronica on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/JayElectronica       

Jay Electronica, from the Magnolia Projects in New Orleans, now residing in Brooklyn, is possibly the most hyped MC ever to only have released two official singles to date. This guy; however, could be the true "savior" of Hip Hop as we used to know it. If you live under a rock and haven't heard his Just Blaze produced joints "Exhibit A (Transformations)" and "Exhibit C," then you need to go BODY YOURSELF. What he accomplished lyrically on these two tracks is pure magic (and I don't mean the kind that nerdy white suburban teenagers play with cards at school). He's been performing in New York and L.A. lately with the likes of Mos Def, Talib Kweli, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Roots. Even P. Diddy has been sweating his shit lately on stage and on Twitter. I put Jay at the number 1 spot because I think he's special. I think what he did on Exhibit's A & C is classic material and I think that he just doesn't know how to write a wack verse. I think he is what I WANT Mos Def to be. He is what I WANT Nas to be. He is an intelligent emcee who rhymes about important issues, but doesn't come off "preachy." He has the ability to spit verses that evoke emotion and intellectual thinking that sound doper than the "poetry" Nas put inside his crack pipe and blew back in 1996. Finally, we have an emcee who can make us all think and simultaneously sound hard as fuck flowing seamlessly over East Coast thumpin' production. And this mutha fucka's from New Orleans!!! I rooted for the Saints in the Super Bowl because of Jay Electronica. (Just kidding, I'm from Boston so FUCK Peyton Manning and FUCK the Colts.) Regardless, I am personally anticipating Jay Electronica's debut album more than anything in the world right now. Whatever this man whips together in the studio is going to be quite rare and extra unique. I just can't wait to listen to it in my headphones with a big ass Model Bubbles (www.Twitter.com/ModelBubbles) smile on my face!!!

Listen to Jay kill these two tracks below:

EMCEE OF THE WEEK - Canibus

If you can believe it, Canibus is still rhyming. He's still spittin' verses that are 10 minutes long and way over the heads of most casual Hip Hop fans. And, guess what? He still doesn't give a fuck if you like him or not. He STILL is unwavering in his stance against the industry and against watering down his content to sell more records. This is essentially why most of you didn't even know that today he released a new solo LP titled "Melatonin Magik." This is actually his NINTH album in the past 12 years!!! I bet most of you didn't have the slightest clue that he's been steadily releasing music this whole time. Granted, at least half of his releases were garbage, but they sucked more so because of Canibus's inability to pick quality beats (a negative attribute of his throughout his career, which, I believe, basically fucked his career).

Despite Canibus's mediocre albums, I strongly believe that his lyrical ferociousness and unfathomable talent still keeps him in the discussion of greatest rappers (at the very least, top 5 greatest lyricists ever). Is he in my top 10 greatest rappers list? NO. Is he in my top 10 list of greatest lyricists? YES. And, trust me, there is a big difference between these categories.

His new album "Melatonin Magik" is no different than most of his releases this past decade. It's an average album primarily because the production is nothing to brag about. But, like all of his albums, it's worth listening to just to hear the insane lyrical content.

I had the pleasure of witnessing him perform live for the first time in my life last night at Southpaw in Brooklyn. After watching him flawlessly spit every single noteworthy, complicated rhyme he's written since hittin' the scene in 1998, I drew only one conclusion: CANIBUS IS NOT HUMAN, HE'S A FUCKIN' ROBOT. I mean this guy is a fuckin' perfectly crafted Cylon from Battlestar Galactica. He commanded the crowd who amazingly repeated every one of his lines in unison. The crowd was excellent and I was happy to see that New York still has a very alive and thriving REAL Hip Hop fan base. Canibus performed his new music acapella, which was very smart of him. This way, the crowd could appreciate the skills on his new shit without being distracted by the production. He also ran through classics like "2nd Round KO," "How We Roll," "2000 BC," and his verse from "4, 3, 2, 1." Even Agallah the Don was on stage with his fur coat and permed out hair spittin' all of Canibus's lines next to the DJ.

Canibus may not be one of the greatest rappers, but he's definitely one of the illest lyricists of all time. His show last night left me in awe at his stage presence and ceremony mastery. The new album is decent overall, but it's definitely a lesson in lyrical wordplay and metaphor. It would do most upcoming "emcees" a lot of good to give Canibus a listen. Maybe they'll learn how to put words together skillfully and creatively. I mean, shiiiiitttt, that's only the main piece of a rapper's job description, right???

Peep Canibus performing "2nd Round KO" live from Southpaw last night in Brooklyn. He also breaks down how the industry black balled his ass in the late '90s. Notice how the crowd knew every single line (and YOU KNOW my ass was hittin' every line in that bitch)!!! Check it below:



Also, peep this two minute freestyle acapella Canibus kicked last night:

DONKEY OF THE WEEK - Vickie 6

This week's "DONKEY OF THE WEEK" is the uber erotic and exquisitely luscious VICTORIA TAYLOR a.k.a. VICKIE 6. She's a 26 year old professional model from Sin City, Las Vegas who has experience in virtually every photo style. From glamour shoots to nude, fetish or bondage shoots, Vickie has dominated the market with her beautiful curves that could get any man (or even woman) to wet his/her underwear!!!

Vickie's resume is quite impressive for only modeling full-time for three years now. She's been in commercials with Andre Agassi and Spike Lee, worked in the Rocky Balboa movie, hosted conventions and fashion shows, hosted Kenny Smith's NBA All Star weekend event in 2007, graced the covers of several books, and been featured in King Magazine twice. Her main focus going forward will be promoting her own brand and her own adult web site (www.Vickie6.com). She's pound for pound the sexiest model on the net and as you read further, you'll be able to witness first-hand why she's the internet champ!

Vickie linked up with me this past weekend for an interview so you all can get to know her a little better. Check the interview and enjoy all of her sexy pictures below:

MONEY MIZ: What up Vickie? Thank you so much for takin' the time out of your schedule to get up with me. I been checkin' your Model Mayhem page and had no idea how busy you are!!! I've interviewed models from LA to Denver, but never someone from Las Vegas. How crazy is the game in Vegas? I could only imagine...

VICKIE 6: And thank you for having me. Yeah (laughing) I do get quite busy especially when it comes to being a traveling model. Vegas is a different game. Living in one of the main tourist spots in the world, you never know who you might meet... and networking is very important. I do VIP modeling out here sometimes and occasionally a shoot or convention like "Magic," but other than that there isn't much work out here for me. Traveling is a must!

MONEY MIZ: Have you lived in Vegas your whole life?

VICKIE 6: I was actually born and raised here. Been here for most of my life and having been in so many different places, it always makes you realize how important home is. I love it here. There's no place like Vegas.

MONEY MIZ: You said it!!! I've never been anywhere like it, no doubt! (Laughing.) Now I've been doin' my research on you and, let me tell ya, it's been quite rewarding research! (Laughing.) Your photo spreads are some of the most erotic and sexual spreads I've seen since doing weekly model features on my site. You seem extremely comfortable with your body and shootin' nude. What's it like doing such sexual, nude shoots and are there a lot of asshole "photogs" in the game or have you been blessed to work with professionals?

VICKIE 6: (Laughing.) Well, that's good to hear. Hope you had fun! I am comfortable with my body, when it comes down to it. If you're gonna do something, might as well throw out any insecurities and do it all or nothing style. I have indeed worked with professionals, regardless of my work when it comes down to my personality and style I don't call on anything else other than respect. I'm a very sweet and laid back person.

MONEY MIZ: No doubt about that! I also wanna make sure I point out that your naked photos are very artistic and quite enthralling. There's really something about you that's captivating and pure. But you don't shoot strictly nude. Your less explicit material is quite amazing as well. How is it different for you to prepare mentally and physically for a nude, fetish shoot compared to a clothed glamour shoot?

VICKIE 6: Thank you! I think it's just that mixture of my personality that shines through. I couldn't do the more erotic effectively without pulling that out of somewhere real inside of me. Likewise, I can't do the more sweet things without also having that side of me. I just do it naturally. That's the talent a real model should have.

MONEY MIZ: Natural is something that's definitely lacking in this industry! You're a breath of fresh air in that regard. Do you listen to Hip Hop and who's your favorite MC? Also, who do you just hate as a rapper?

VICKIE 6: Yeah, I love Hip Hop. I can't really pick a favorite though. I've always loved Three-6-Mafia and noticed a lot of the Black Eyed Peas songs have been favorites of mine lately. As far as hate... I don't really know. I wouldn't remember them.

MONEY MIZ: What was it like working with King Magazine?

VICKIE 6: Working with King was cool. They were my first print in a magazine, that I know of. Good exposure.

MONEY MIZ: You might be the most "real" model I've seen in quite some time. There's no plastic surgery, fake breasts or fake booty and it's really refreshing to see a real woman modeling now-a-days. What's your opinion of all the fakeness that's taken over the industry and how do you separate yourself from the phonies?

VICKIE 6: I agree... it is refreshing. And that's a sad thing to say when you think about it. I think if you have to change everything about you, then you're in the wrong career. I just stay myself and don't try to fit into any box.

MONEY MIZ: You're definitely a well rounded business woman and I'm not just talkin' about your booty. (Laughing.) You've been creating some-what of an internet empire. From your website, to book covers, to magazine spreads, to commercials, to hosting events, you've pretty much done it all in a short time frame. From a business stand-point, how difficult has it been to create the brand you have and be as successful as you have been?

VICKIE 6: Yeah, I'm trying... and I have a ways to go, but so far anything I've tried to do has been accomplished. I've always been an entrepreneur so the key is just trying more things.

MONEY MIZ: Word. What's your ethnicity? I'm dying to know what kind of genes created the beauty of Vickie 6!!!

VICKIE 6: (Laughing.) Awww... My father is black, my mother is German, English, Irish and Scottish. Try guessing that!

MONEY MIZ: Wow, I thought I was a mix!!! I'll go out on a limb here and thank your dad for the booty! (Laughing.) If you don't mind me asking, what's your sexual orientation? I've seen you do pictures with girls so I'm wondering what you're into sexually.

VICKIE 6: Ask away! I love men. I can have a physical attraction with women at times and am definitely not afraid of them, but romantically I could never feel for a woman in that way.

MONEY MIZ: What's your favorite position?

VICKIE 6: Depends. But as much as people wanna label missionary as the boring one... It also allows kissing. Plus I can access... myself. (Smiling.)

MONEY MIZ: Word, I've seen y'all women diggin' that a lot actually. (Laughing.) With Valentine's Day around the corner, what would be the ideal romantic evening for Vickie 6?

VICKIE 6: I'd love a candle lit dinner on a nice summer night with someone I can't get enough of. Good food, conversation, some wine and looking into each others' eyes. Simple.

MONEY MIZ: I read something online that you might be retiring in 2010. Is this true? And, if so, what do you have planned for this year and then moving on or past modeling after 2010?

VICKIE 6: Yes it's true, that's the plan. This year I plan on working with everyone I have ever wanted to and traveling as a model everywhere I've always wanted to as well. Doing mags, videos and whatever else I can get my hands on. And then after 2010, working exclusively for my brand and my site.

MONEY MIZ: Seeing that you're from Vegas, I just have to ask if dance at all? 'Cause if you do I need to book a trip with my boys real quick! (Laughing.)

VICKIE 6: What kind of dancing? (Laughing.) We're talkin' about Vegas here! I love to dance when I go out, but as far as strip clubs... I tried that a few times, but the last time was many years ago.

MONEY MIZ: You have some piercings I've noticed in some of your photos. How many do you have and where are they? What initially got you into the art of piercing?

VICKIE 6: I have 10. Five in my ears, one in my nose, one in my lip, one in my belly and both of my nipples. I got into it 'cause it's very visual for my work and exciting.

MONEY MIZ: What's goin' on with all these sites (ahem, Model Mayhem) censoring all your shit? I've noticed you gettin' frustrated on Twitter about this recently. What's your opinion on all of that?

VICKIE 6: Yeah, I've noticed that I'm very heavily censored! (Laughing.) Even though I do try to be tasteful with what I post, write, etc. I think it's something about the curves of my body and eroticism of my nature that makes even a totally innocent person... come off naughty. Not my fault!

MONEY MIZ: I've featured you on my site last year and you've been one of the most popular "DONKEY'S OF THE WEEK" so far. You have an amazing body. What are your measurements and how do you maintain that booty?

VICKIE 6: Good to hear! I do try to work out and I eat pretty healthy, but mostly that's just my body type. I'm 33-25-38.

MONEY MIZ: What is the wildest photo shoot you've ever done and how can my readers (and I) check it out? (Laughing.)

VICKIE 6: (Laughing.) Wildest shoot was an erotic shoot with my ex-boyfriend. That was for us to keep and there are some pics floating around but there won't be anymore (laughing). We will continue to keep those personal.

MONEY MIZ: Aight, well thank you so much for rappin' with me. You're one of our favorite models and I appreciate you takin' the time out to answer my questions. Please tell my readers where they can find more of your beautiful work online, in print, or elsewhere...


VICKIE 6: Sure...

You can find me on my website: www.Vickie6.com


Also on: www.ModelMayhem.com/Vickie6


Follow me on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/ModelVickie6 


On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/VictoriaATaylor

New Hip Hop Album Releases - 2/9/10

The following is a list of new Hip Hop album releases for Tuesday, February 9, 2010:

Canibus: "Melatonin Magik"

DJ Kay Slay: "More Than Just A DJ"

Kurupt: "Down And Dirty"

Lord Superb: "Superb Clientele" (apparently he still thinks he wrote Supreme Clientele)

Louieville Sluggah (of O.G.C.): "Best Kept Secret" 

Some interesting releases this week. I'm definitely interested in all of them because all of these dudes were nice at one point or another. I'm actually most interested in Lord Superb's album. He's a Wu-Tang affiliate who killed every verse he ever spit on back in the late '90s and early '00s. He went to prison for some time and got salty that Ghostface never visited him or gave him the "credit that he deserved." While in prison he claimed that he wrote most of Ghost's verses on Supreme Clientele. I doubt it, but the shit he did write for himself was nasty.

I'll let y'all know what I think of these as soon as I get a chance to listen. Most likely, I'll keep y'all updated on Twitter. Peace.

THROWBACK CLASSIC - Week of 2/7/10

In memory of Big Pun's passing today as well as in anticipation of Capone-N-Noreaga's new album "The War Report 2," the THROWBACK CLASSIC of the week is Noreaga's classic posse cut "Banned From TV" featuring Nature, Big Pun, Cam'Ron, Jadakiss, and Styles P. The track was produced by Swizz Beatz and is one of his best joints to date. They really don't make posse cuts like this anymore. This was a time when New York mutha fuckas were straight runnin' shit in Hip Hop. Peep this classic video below:

Jay Electronica vs. Mickael Pietrus

I'm sittin' here watchin' the Celtics vs. Magic game and it just hit me... Jay Electronica looks EXACTLY like Mickael Pietrus from the Orlando Magic. I mean, this is fuckin' crazy. They are practically identical twins!!!

Check the similarity:

JAY ELECTRONICA

MICKAEL PIETRUS 

JAY ELECTRONICA

MICKAEL PIETRUS

R.I.P. - BIG PUN

Today, on February 7, 2000, Big Pun, one of my top 5 greatest emcees of all time, passed away due to a heart attack. His death was so untimely and so sad. He was the first Latin rapper to go platinum and he was so sick-wit-it that you couldn't even classify him as simply a "Latin Rapper." No, he was your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. He was the first true "Lyrical Beast" on the mic. His flow was outrageous, his lyrics were hard, intelligent, ignorant, grimey, and funny all at the same time. He could handle the entire spectrum of Hip Hop and he did just that on his debut album "Capital Punishment." I'll be honest, when 2Pac and Biggie died, it didn't really phase me. When Pun died, I'll never forget sittin' in my dorm room just listening to Capital Punishment on repeat all day. How could he have died one month before the scheduled release of his sophomore LP release "Yeeeeah Baby!"???  I'll never forget Big Pun and I'll never forget his impact on the game of Hip Hop. He is a legend in its truest form.

On September 15, 2009, Vlad Yudin put out a tribute documentary to Big Pun titled "Big Pun: The Legacy." I finally got around to watching this documentary this past week and it was excellent. It brought back so many memories of "the good ol' days" in hip-hop. It was also very emotional and sad as most of you would expect.

The documentary focuses on Big Pun's entire life, from growing up in the Soundview Projects in the Bronx and dealing with an abusive step-father and a heroin addicted mother to him reaching double platinum as a world famous hip-hop artist. It also focuses on Pun's addiction to food once he began to make money. When you see pictures of him as a teenager, you won't believe your eyes. Pun was a muscular, in-shape dude who played basketball with Cuban Link and the rest of his boys from the "Full-a-clips" crew.

"Big Pun: The Legacy" also contains a lot of footage of Big Pun himself in interviews and live performances. You get to see him freestyle in a huge cypher with some other famous rappers and you get to see him perform many different songs live. It disturbed me to an extent to see him performing live while sitting down on a chair on stage. Remarkably, Pun could spit his verses sitting down better than most emcees can do it standing up. There are also interviews with dozens of rappers who reflect on Big Pun and his legacy in the rap game including: Method Man, Raekwon, Prodigy, Snoop Dogg, DMX, Xzibit, Steve Rifkind, Cuban Link, Armageddon, DJ Skribble, and many more.

In addition, Vlad Yudin shed light on Pun's criminal past and obsession with guns. Pun used to walk around with 4 guns in his waist band and constantly pull them out threatening people. Most of the shit he rhymed about was actually for real, unlike 90% of the rappers out there.

I highly recommend coppin' this DVD, especially if you weren't into Big Pun back in the day. After witnessing his skills in this documentary, nobody can deny his talent and impact he had on hip-hop. For me personally, if you don't consider Big Pun to be in your top 5 dead or alive list of greatest rappers of all time, then you absolutely do not know what the fuck you're talking about. Heads that don't recognize him as one of the best ever simply aren't real hip-hop fans. WORD LIFE!!!!

You can cop this DVD at:

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Pun-Legacy-Snoop-Dogg/dp/B002C8YSEM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1257438932&sr=8-1

Peep the trailer here:

CONCERT ALERT - Week of 2/1/10

The following is a list of upcoming Hip Hop shows in the NY area:

CANIBUS W/ HOMEBOY SANDMAN, PACK FM, MR. MECCA & SUBSTANTIAL

Where: SouthPaw (125 Fifth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11217)
When: Monday, February 8, 2010
Doors: 8:00 PM
Show: 9:00 PM
Tickets: $10 (In advance) $15 (Day of)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
______________________________________________________________________________

FREEWAY RECORD RELEASE PARTY W/ JOELL ORTIZ & BROTHER ALI

Where: Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th St. Manhattan)
When: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 9:00 PM
Tickets: $13 (In Advance)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
_____________________________________________________________________________

LORD FINESSE'S BDAY BASH W/ RAKIM, DITC, BRAND NUBIAN, THE BEATNUTS, BLACK SHEEP, NICE & SMOOTH, LARGE PROFESSOR, DJ PREMIER, BRAND NUBIAN, PLUS MORE

Where: S.O.B.'s (204 Varick St. Manhattan)
When: Thursday, February 18, 2010
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
Tickets: $25 (In Advance) $30 (Day of)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
_____________________________________________________________________________

SEAN PRICE BABY SHOWER & PERFORMANCE

Where: Santos Party House (96 Lafayette St. Manhattan)
When:  Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Show: 7:30 - 11:30 PM
Tickets: None (Must bring a present for his unborn daughter - SERIOUSLY)
CLICK FOR FLYER (HILARIOUS!!!)
_____________________________________________________________________________

ROYCE DA 5'9" & CROOKED I (OF SLAUGHTERHOUSE)

Where: S.O.B.'s (204 Varick St. Manhattan)
When: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Doors: 8:00 PM
Show: 9:00 PM
Tickets: $15 (In Advance) $17 (Day of)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
_____________________________________________________________________________

HIP HOP KARAOKE 4TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO BIGGIE SMALLS

Where: Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn)
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sign Up: 9:00 PM
Show: 10:00 PM
Tickets: $5 with flyer
CLICK HERE FOR FLYER

THROWBACK CLASSIC - Week of 2/1/10

After seeing Smif-N-Wessun live at S.O.B.'s this past Wednesday, I realized I forgot to post a new THROWBACK CLASSIC this week. This video really needs no introduction other than... CLASSIC. Check out one of the best joints from the '90s below. Buck Town... Home of the Originoo Gun Clappaz.

"She's So Fresh" III - Concert Review

The past few weeks have been extraordinary for REAL Hip Hop music and culture in New York. From my being caught off guard at the "Bondfire at Bowery Poetry Club Open Mic Night" to Statik Selektah's "100 Proof" Record Release Party at S.O.B.'s, I've had the pleasure of witnessing some exceptional live Hip Hop performances thus far in 2010.

The "She's So Fresh" Showcase III truly continued my lucky streak of being a first-hand witness to GREAT HIP HOP in 2010. The event took place last night at Sputnik in Brooklyn. I had the pleasure of being invited by three unrelenting, pertinacious women of Hip Hop: DJ TastyKeish of WBAI 99.5 FM's "Rise Up Radio" Show (www.Twitter.com/TastyKeish), Bless Roxwell the Femcee and CEO of J.A.G. Music & Media (www.Twitter.com/BlessRoxwell), and Miss Shani the CEO/Chief Publicist and Event Producer of Stilettos & Sounds LLC (www.Twitter.com/StilettoDiva). I was pleasantly surprised by the gift bag I received when I entered the venue. Big up to Bless Roxwell for the CD and the delicious cupcake I killed on the G Train headin' back home at 2:00 AM.

"She's So Fresh" is a concert series that Bless Roxwell created back in August of 2009. It's a forum for upcoming female emcees (a.k.a. "Femcees") to display their skills on the mic live in NYC. The concept is amazing because femcees simply don't get the shine that some of them deserve in the Hip Hop game. I mean, look at my site for example. I have yet to feature a female rapper as "EMCEE OF THE WEEK" mainly because it's more challenging to find high quality female talent, due to a lack of media support. (I'll be remedying this situation on my site in the near future!!!) Regardless, Bless Roxwell is pioneering the promotion of women in Hip Hop. She doesn't just represent for women through marketing, she reps when she Rox Well on the mic and Blesses the crowd live on stage. (God, I can only imagine how many times somebody has already used that line, I just couldn't pass it up!!!)

"She's So Fresh III" was hosted by DJ TastyKeish and the show started on time (what kinda fuckery is this???) being set off with the appropriate tone by DJ Mocha rockin' the 1s & 2s. The first act to hit the stage was a collective group of freestyle rhymers called "Rhyme Like A Girl." Their set was rather unique as they all just got on stage and partook in a freestyle cypher that included a mixture of rapping and singing which all had a theme and a direction. This was quite an impressive way to come out the gate. Of the six acts to follow "Rhyme Like A Girl," I was thoroughly feelin' three of them:

Dante is an upcoming artist from Brooklyn. She held down a 15 minute set with some serious stage presence. She's got a pretty hard and gritty flow. One track really stood out to me and I think it was called "We On." Another track that caught my ear was called "Walk It." This is the first single from her new "Square In A Circle" Mixtape set for release on Monday, February 8th. You can download this track here: ***FREE DOWNLOAD*** Dante "Walk It"



Be sure to peep Dante's myspace at: www.myspace.com/dantemusic

You can also follow Dante on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/SuperstarTaay

Bless Roxwell was the next femcee to impress me last night. Bless is as beautiful visually as she is audibly. Don't let her lovely feminine attributes fool you though, because she can get on stage and tear shit down. Two songs she spit last night really stood out for me: "Motivation" and "Peace, Love, Unity." Her flows were complimented by a couple of sick beats here and she did an excellent job captivating the crowd and really moving them with her command of the mic wand.

Bless is quite the Hip Hop entrepreneur as well. She's the owner and founder of J.A.G. Music and Media and she runs a blog called "The Revolution of Fresh" at www.WeSoFresh.com where Bless profiles female MCs and women in Hip Hop through her famous "She's So Fresh" Fridayz! series. Currently, Ms. Roxwell has an album available on iTunes titled "Evolutions." Click the link below to download the album from iTunes:

BLESS ROXWELL "EVOLUTIONS" ALBUM on iTUNES  

Also be sure to follow Bless Roxwell on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/BlessRoxwell 
Her official website is: www.blessroxwell.com/ 

The third act to really grab my attention was The Anomolies. They're an all female group consisting of Big Tara, Pri the Honeydark, Helixx, Kuttin Kandi, and Invincible. She's So Fresh Showcase III was also a birthday party for Detroit's own Invincible (www.Twitter.com/InvincibleDET). She's arguably the illest female rapper ever. Forget classifying her as a female emcee, she's one of the the illest EMCEES period. Honestly, if you haven't heard of Invincible you need to BODY YOURSELF right now.

The Anomolies absolutely merked their set doin' classic songs without missin' a single word. Even their DJ Kuttin Kandi lit up the Technics like they were firecrackers. Invincible was truly astounding and I was amazed to see her two nights in a row (as she performed with Bahamadia the night prior at Statik Selektah's Record Release Party at S.O.B.'s). She was puttin' in some solid work on the night of her birthday, but what better way to celebrate than to do what is your life passion and have the crowd rhyme right along with you. It must've been a wonderful feeling.

As I rode the train back home to downtown Brooklyn eating the scrumptious red velvet cupcake that Bless Roxwell stuffed into the gift bag, I began to think that KRS-One really isn't crazy. You see, I've been reading his "Gospel of Hip Hop" 832 page bible for HipHoppas and he repeatedly instructs his readers to follow their dreams and stop fuckin' with societal norms that confine people to dead-end jobs. I finally felt at ease with my decision to quit my job last week and begin to pursue something I'm passionate about. Well the ladies of "She's So Fresh" Showcase III proved to me that pursuing your passion just may be the thing to do because they all were doin' it and doin' it and DOIN' IT WELL.

Peep the Invincible's video for her track "Sledgehammer" below: